HEAVIER penalties are set to be imposed on litter louts and on people who allow their dogs to foul on public areas in Redcar and Cleveland.

The existing penalty of a £50 fine is set to increase to an £80 fine - £60 if paid with 10 days - under proposals being considered next Tuesday by Redcar and Cleveland Council’s Cabinet.

The Cabinet will consider a report from the council’s director of area management, Simon Dale. In it he says: “By raising the level of fixed penalty notices for dog fouling and littering it will assist Redcar and Cleveland to become a cleaner, safer more attractive place to live, work and visit.” He adds: “There will also be a saving in revenue as the council will spend less on cleaning the area.”

Mr Dale says the council is committed to reducing environmental crime through education and enforcement.

“To that end we have recently launched our dog fouling campaign at Lockwood Primary School in Boosbeck with great assistance from the schoolchildren.

“As well as the educational aspects outlining the impact of these crimes, we need to let people know that we will not hesitate to take enforcement where necessary.”

Lockwood pupils dressed in CSI-style suits to show that dog fouling is a crime.

Mr Dale says that fixed penalty notices are offered as an alternative to prosecution, but if the circumstances are serious enough or there are aggravating features such as repeat offences, then the council could proceed with prosecution without the offer of a fixed penalty notice.

In 2009-10 the council’s community protection service issued 23% more (291) fixed penalty notices for littering and 52% more fixed penalty notices for dog fouling (155).

Redcar and Cleveland has issued more such notices for environmental crimes than any other authority in the area.

The Cabinet is being asked to recommend the fine increases to the full council.